Improvement in vehicle-hubs



J. M. WHITING. Vehicle-Hub.

' No. 202,208. iPatentd April 9,1878.

WITNESSES. INVENTOR. WW/fl/W W2;

WWQZZ? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. WHITING, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR ONE- HALF HIS RIGHT TO JULIUS CARROLL, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN VEH lCLE-HUBS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 202,208, dated April 9, 1878; application filed December 20, 1877.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES M. WHITING, of the city and county of Providence, and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Vehicle-Hubs; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents my improved hub in longitudinal cross section. Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 represent end views of the elastic bushings. Fig. 6 represents an end view of the axle-box, and Fig. 7 a side elevation of the same. My invention relates to an improved construction of vehicle-hubs, whereby an elastic cushion is interposed to receive and lessen the jar and concussions to which they are necessarily subjected.

In the drawings, A is the axle-arm. B is the axle-box, provided at its inner end with an annular projecting flange, and with one or more lugs, b, fitted into corresponding recesses c in the sleeve (3, to prevent it from turning upon the axle-box. O E G and D E D are what may be termed elastic bushings, the construction and operation of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

F is the hub of the wheel, fitted to receive the spokes in the usual manner, and counterbored at each end to receive the elastic bushings with a close fit, and of such internal diameter as to leave a central annular space around the axle-box. The hub is provided.

with metallic bands G and G, of the usual form.

The elastic bushings which comprise my invention are constructed with two flanged sleeves, as shown in Fig. 1, made of cast-iron or other suitable material, and interposed between them is an elastic substance of correspondin g form. I prefer to make this elastic cushion of india-rubber, using the sleeves themselves as a mold, and vulcanizing the rubber after it has been filled in between them. I do not, however, limit myself to this method of construction.

The sleeve D is threaded internally .at its outer end to fit a screw-thread out upon the end of the axle-box, and the outside of the sleeve is squared at the end to receive a wrench.

In securing the hub and axle-box together, the bushing O E G is first driven tightlyinto its place, so that the hub will not turn upon it. The box is then passed through, and the bushing D E D is screwed up, so as to securely clamp the hub between the two bushings, the ends of the hub abutting against the flanges of the sleeves O and D.

It will be readily seen that any strain transmitted from the axle-arm to the wheel must pass through the elastic sleeves E, the flanges on the sleeves being particularly calculated to receive the blows resulting from side motion.

A suitable space should be left at each extremity of the sleeve E, so as not to confine the rubber, and thus reduce its elasticity.

I do not claim, broadly, the use of an elastic cushion in a vehicle-hub, as I have already shown that feature in various Letters ,Patent previously granted to me; nor do I claim, broadly, the use of an elastic sleeve interposed between two metallic bushings. Such a device has been shown in patent granted to G. F. Wilson, November 24, 1868.

I have found in practice, however, that such an arrangement does not give a sufficient degree of stability to the wheel, and the object of my present invention is to overcome this defeet, which I do by placing the vertical flange upon the elastic sleeve, thereby limiting the side movement of the wheel, so as to prevent any zigzag motion.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a vehicle-hub, the elastic sleeve E, provided with an annular flange at right angles thereto, in combination with the rigid sleeves O and 0, provided with corresponding annular flanges, substantially as shown and de scribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES M. WHITING. [L.

Witnesses J ULIUs CARROLL, J OEL BARDEN. 

